It’s time for another C7 Corvette rumor, folks. Though this time around it’s not as far-fetched as the mid-engined talk that keeps springing up for some reason, but instead the Detroit Bureau is reporting that GM execs have approved the development of a small displacement turbocharged V8 engine. The engine size is said to be around 3 liters and will feature an overhead cam setup, a dry sump oil system, a narrow 80.5 millimeter bore and a long stroke such as engines featured in Ferrari models and will be capable of revving to a stratospheric 10,000 RPM. Such an engine is expected to punch out over 400 horsepower, or 125 horses per liter.
For those of you that want a more traditional engine in the Corvette, the Bureau is also claiming that there will be a few large displacement OHV eight-pots making their way underneath the hood of the C7 as well.
Source: The Detroit Bureau
Comments
It would make me so happy to see GM unleash it’s engineering furry in the form of a small displacement high reving multicam V8, that frankly i do’nt beleave it. The fantasy of this little screamer in an ATS is making me giddy.
OH BOY………THIS IS GONNA BE GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!
I would love to see this. I bet the engine could be dropped in some other GM cars like maybe a LaCrosse Super or a real Regal Gran Sport!! Either way, whether this engine is small, at least it’s 8 cylinders and over 400 horses, well you can’t beat that in the least!!
The reason for this small displacement is due to Europes taxes bases on displacement size. it is a reality that this will come to production but mostly for Europe. This is to help Chevy become a real global player and have their flagship sell well overseas against most of its competition. this engine will be a screamer….
It’s time for these kinds of ideas/rumors/speculation to become a reality for Corvette. Maybe this is the future of the Z06? Focused, specific model with an edge and without concessions made to the “boomer crowd”. Current car definitely a victim of the economy as well as the flood of production in ’07 and ’08, which when combined total over 75,000 cars.
I do wonder about the reliability of such an engine. F1 engines aren’t designed to go anywhere NEAR 100,000 miles.
In a Ferarri, this isn’t an issue, because Ferarri owners are used to continual maintenance on their cars. For Chevrolet, it’s a huge issue, because they warranty their engines for 100,000 miles.
Though I think such an engine would be pretty cool, I don’t know that an F1-style small displacement ultra revving V8 even matches the character of the Corvette, much less fits into the picture financially for GM’s warranty division.
Paul
Honda’s and Porsche rev to the moon and are known for quarter million mile plus logevity. It’s a combination of tight tolerances and regular oil changes. The tight tolerances are taken care of at the factory by modern machining and quality controll techniques, the oil changes are taken care of at the dealership. Miss your scedualed mainanance and loose you warantee. I have faith in the talent of GM engineers, look at the C6 and CTS-V’s performance.
One thing I’d like to know, is what is everyone’s fascination with “small displacement” engines. DOHC engines are almost always smaller in displacement than pushrods, so when you hear about a “smaller” DOHC engine, say a 5.0 liter, putting out as much power as a “larger” 6.2 liter pushrod, the DOHC seems more advanced. What people don’t realize is that DOHC engines, despite their smaller displacement, tend to be of similar actual size and weight as a comparable (in power) pushrod. In other words, a 5.0 liter DOHC will probably be similar in size, weight, power, and fuel efficiency as a 6.2 liter pushrod.
A 3.0 liter engine like they’re talking about will probably not be all that small in actual dimensions, especially once they’ve mounted turbos on it. I guess it would make sense, however, if its designed to compete globally, since other countries often place taxes on displacement, which, for reasons I’ve outlined above, is a flawed idea. I will never undestand why they tax displacement rather than just basing it on fuel economy, but that’s a discussion for another place.
Who cares? They will never build a truly “futuristic” Vette as was promised for so many years back in the day. They always give in to “dumed down” muscle cars for the masses. Who will step forward and make a 2 seat “Jestons” styled ultra mind blow design without the goofy racetrack imagery that has been sold since the 60’s? And not a bile inducing Cadillac Comic book vesion either…..
IN a modern way C7 LOOKS AS GOOD AS THE 63 STINGRAY,or Mako SHARK of the 80S .THE 1963 OLDS CUTLASS JETFIRE had a 4.5 V8 TURBO,BUT IT WASNT UNTILTHE 1983 BUICK T-TYPE GRANDNATIONAL,that a small displacement could haul azz on-less-gas. THIS 3.0 OHC TURBO V8 isthe LLOYD REUSS answer to the rice rocket TOYOTA THE attack from MAZDA,HONDA,NISSAN,and even HYUNDI !